A Child Rights Law expert, Prof. Iyabode Ogunniran, on Tuesday called on Nigerian Lawyers to join hands in prosecuting cases of child abuse in the society.
Ogunniran made the call at the 2024 joint Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), featuring four of its Lagos branches, Ikeja, Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Law Week holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, is tagged: “Analysing the challenges facing women and children in Nigeria; The way forward- galvanising voices”.
In her keynote speech, Ogunniran, the University of Lagos Executive Director, Voice of the Child Law Centre, noted that any person under the age of 18, was classified as a child by the Child Rights Act .
She said that often, issues around children were submerged with women, and categorised collectively as “gender issues” which should not be the case
According to her, the National Bureau of Statistics provided that the nation has a population of about 180 million, out of which about 46 per cent are people under 18 years.
She said that between 2012 and 2014, about 43 per cent of the nation’s population were persons between the ages of 0 to 14 years, adding that Nigeria has a growing population of children.
The professor also stated that in 2021, statistics provided that the nation’s population stood at 211 million, with the population of women accounting for 41 per cent.
She, therefore, said that the analysis portrayed that issues concerning children should be treated differently, following their numbers.
The don highlighted some of the challenges facing children in the society to include inadequate birth registration, non access to basic education, as well as health care.
According to the expert, statistics shows that only about 43 per cent of children are registered at birth, leaving the other statistics unaccounted for.
She noted that Section 5 of the Child Rights Act, provides that a child possesses the right to a name or identity, and a right to be registered at birth, adding that this cannot be possible without registration.
“Access to basic education is a child’s right, but it becomes a problem where they are not registered at birth,” Ogunniran said.
According to her, one out of every out-of-school children in the world, is from Nigeria.
She, however, questioned, if Nigerian children were not educated, how would they contribute to the society.
Ogunniran added that infant mortality was another problem facing children in the society.
She said that the National Health Demographic Survey of 2018, provided that one in five children would die before their fifth birthday.
Ogunniran also stated that 64 per cent of children did not take full dose of immunisation available for children in Nigeria.
She added that 67 per cent of Nigerian children were poor.
The rights activist, therefore, urged stakeholders like FIDA, to organise awareness crusade, and sensitise the public on the importance of child rights.
On issue of education, she noted that the court had in a decided case, upheld the right of every child to basic education.
She urged legal practitioners to drive implementation through the corridors of the courtroom.
On health care delivery, she stated that Section 20 of the National Health Act, provided that every child deserved basic health care even in emergency situations.
Ogunniran advised lawyers to drive implementation of Section 20 of the Health Act.
While x-raying challenges facing women like; low political participation, lack of economic empowerment, low access to skills and finance, domestic violence, female genital mutilation and others, she called for decisive measures to tackle same.
“There is the need for affirmative action from our women, they must make conscious efforts to be seen, to lead, and we must utilise the “He for She” campaign and let our men support us,” she said
Speaking on how women lawyers could leverage technology in advancing their law practice, a tech-savvy lawyer, Mrs Deborah Oni, urged female lawyers to utilise technology at their disposal for their benefit.
According to her, the use of smart phones, tablets, and computers can be very instrumental to grey areas of legal practice which sadly, many have not bothered to check.
Oni, urged lawyers to tap from the abundant technology available especially in the wake of Artificial Intelligence, and leverage on same, “since the world is now tech inclined.”
An advocate against human trafficking, Mr Ositadimma Osemene, spoke on the dangers of human trafficking.
He stated that women and children were worst hit by the menace of human trafficking.
He noted that there were over one million victims of human trafficking in Nigeria, including women, boys and girls.
He identified three elements of human trafficking as the act, the means and the purpose, adding that lawyers must identify these elements as being “red flags” to other vices.
“Children are most vulnerable to incidences of abuse and trafficking, first because they lack control of their consent as well as will power, and so can be easily exploited.
“Some of the push factors for these ills include poverty, climate change, perceived opportunities abroad, incapacity, among other factors,” he said.
He urged lawyers to watch out for some of the elements mentioned and act fast.
NAN reports that moderators for the event were a former Vice Chairperson of the NBA Lagos branch, Mrs Abiye Tam-George and a Newscaster with the Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs Vera Chinwuba.
NAN also reports that the event had in attendance, some past and present leadership of the bar, women lawyers across the different NBA branches in lagos, as well as gender advocates.
